UK Performance Engineering Workshop

Free time in Edinburgh

Culture:

The Royal Scottish Museum on Chambers Street is very worthwhile. From here if you follow the George IV bridge north it will take you towards Princes Street down a steep hill called The Mound. On the Mound are two more fine museums: The National Gallery of Scotland and the Royal Scottish Academy. The National Gallery has two beautiful pictures by Turner and is also home to The Three Graces. The City Art Centre features more modern and ethnic work and is in Market Street immediately south of Waverley Station. The Fruit Market Gallery opposite it also features modern or contemporary artists.

Both Edinburgh Castle and Holyrood Palace are open to the public.

Relaxing:

If you have good weather it is very pleasant to sit around in Princes Street Gardens. If you want to get a little exercise then walking up Arthur's Seat (the hill in Holyrood Park) will give you a great view over the city and across the Forth. The Commonwealth Pool on Holyrood Park Road is an excellent swimming pool.

Cinemas:

On a rainy day you might want to go to the cinema. The best two in Edinburgh are The Cameo in Tollcross and The Filmhouse on Lothian Road. Details of what's showing are in Yellow Pages Film Finder.

Shopping:

Edinburgh has many pleasant shops but the greatest concentration of these centrally are to be found on Princes Street. Several large book shops are there, including two branches of Waterstones. There are good clothes shops also. Other shops are found along the Royal Mile (the streets connecting Edinburgh Castle to Holyrood Place: High Street and Cannongate).

Pubs:

Typical student pubs are Negociants and the Bristo Bar which are both on Lothian Street. Starting from here you can go to a classic Edinburgh pub called ``Greyfriars Bobby'' on Candlemaker Row near Greyfriars Kirk. Following Candlemaker Row down the hill from Greyfriars Bobby will lead you in to the Grassmarket. Most of the pubs in the Grassmarket are great but to see a very unusual cellar pub ask someone to direct you to Bannerman's Bar on Niddry Street. Always crowded, it has a great atmosphere.